Earth mover



Nov. 11, 1941. M. WOOLDRIDGE- EARTH MOVER Filed May 28, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. Mack l/l/oa/or/t/ge ATTORNEY.

Nov. 11, 1941.

M. WOOLDRIDGE EARTH MOVER Filed May 28, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I EH ."H

s E Q INVENTOR. Mack Woo/09v oga @227 .ZZ K

ATTO EY.

Nov. 11, 1941. M. WOOLDRIDGE EARTH MOVER Filed May 28, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 k lNXgZ/NTOR. Mac Woo/ 'r/c/gz ATTORNEY.

Nov. 11, 1941. M. WOOLDRIDGE EARTH MOVER Filed May 28, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Mack l x/oo/o rv'o ge. BY & i

- A TT NEY.

Nov. 11, 1941. M. VWOOLDRIDGE 2,262,310

EARTH MOVER Filed May 28, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Q Q E I N Q Q N Q 3% Q Q M s l\ H Q m I INVENTOR.

{I BY M 2%,,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED] STAT ean'rn Moves Mack Wooldridge, San Jose, Calif., asalgnor, by

mesne assignments, to Wooldridge Mullah; Y

turing Company, a corporation of Nevada Application May 28,1938, Serial No. 219,671

6 Claims. (Cl. 37-124) J My invention releats to transporting devices for excavating, carrying and discharging material such as earth, and is particularly concerned with a vehicle which is drawn by a tractor or other suitablemotiv power and during its advance- -ment over the terrain is capable of dislodging earth from the surface thereof, of holding a very large amount of such dislodged earth, of carrying it for a protracted period, and of discharging it at a selected site, either in a single pile or spread out in a layer of a predetermined and variable thickness.

It is an object of my invention in general improve earthmovers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel structure incorporating a bowl having a load discharge member movable between rigid side walls, in conjunction with a forward forked frame, and which makes possible raising and lowering of the cutting blade without applying undue stresses to the bowl or frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of effective dig ing by the cutting blade, accompanied by an effective loading action.

Another object of my invention is to. provide an earth mover in which the loading and unloading of the vehicle are satisfactory whether the material is sticky clay or whether it is free-flowing sand or other materials of similar, widely varying characteristics.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an earth mover con structed in accordance with my invention, a portion of the front structure being shown in crosssection;

Fig. 2 is a plan ofmy earth mover;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section, the plane. of which is indicated by the'line 3-4 of Fig. 2, parts of the structure being shown in several positions;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of my earth mover;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section, the planes of which are indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detailed cross-section, the plane of which is indicated by the line i-i of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail in section corresponding to Fig. 3, showing especially in side elevation a mounting of the-central rear wheels in one position;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing'the wheels in another position.

My earth .mover incorporates a main bowl and load supporting positions. In conjunction with the main. bowl structure, there is, a front respect to the cuttingblade.

cutting or digging blade, together with a member.

'movable between the side walls between discharge apronor auxiliary'load carrying bowl B'which is movable between closed or raised positions with structure is connected Infthe form of earth mover disclosedin'the drawings, the machine is adapted to be propelled over theground by any suitable draft implement,

'suchas atractor (notshown). The earth mover is connected to the tractor by a drawbar 6 secured to a front truck axle 1 at the extremities of which suitable front ground-engaging members or wheels 8 are journaled. A'ball 9 pro jecting upwardly from the axle I is received in a socket II at one extremity I! of the frame C, whereby this frame is supported upon the groundengaging members i for virtually universal move- 'ment. The draft frame 0 is fabricated of suitbers are side plates 2| and 22 (formingpart ofthe main bowl structure A) of generally planar extent and irregular outline, reinforced by suitable structural shapes welded thereto. The side plates are spanned by suitably reinforced rear end plates 23 to which, at suitable intervals, extensions or out,- riggers 24 are attached. The Outriggers form'pillow blocks for removable axles 26 and 21 of suit; able ground-engaging wheels 28 and 29, respectively which support the rear of the side plates 2| and 22.

- In addition to the ground-engaging members 28 and, I- can provide an intermediatepair of dual wheels- 3| which are mounted for rising and falling movement independently of the pairs 28 and so that, despite the unevenness of the terrain over whlchlthe vehicle is, advancing, at least twopairs of wheels are bearing substantially equal portions of the load.

Extending from brackets 32 on the-rear wall 23 are mounting cranks. 33 which, adjacent the bracket 32,. are journaled on pins 34 and at their other ends are Joined by structural members It for unitary movement; Adjacent the elbow of structure A having rigid sidewalls and a forward thec ank 'arms' an-a xlel fl extends between them;

The main "bowl to a forward forked frame J' ournals 8 and A and carries the pair in an are about the axis of the pins 34. The member 39 is provided with a pair of upstanding rollers 34 which bear on the side plates 39 of a rocker frame 4I secured to the rear wall 23 by 2,262,810 of wheels 3| for movement pivot pins 42. A pierced spring cup 43 is mounted by trunnions 44 in the side plates 39 and receives 9| is paid out by itswinch, the weight of the side plates 2| and 2,2 and their associated parts is sufficient to draw the pulleys II and I2 apart, and to rotate the differential drum 44 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 2, in response to the paying out of the cable 9|.

The raising and lowering movementdescribed 1 above is effective to control the elevation of the cutting or digging blade-3|. I This blade extends horizontally and transversely between the forward ends of the side platesand is rigidlysecured thereto; The blade 9| itself can be sharpened or is offered to the rising movement of the wheels 3|, so that by suitably adjusting the nuts 5| a selected proportion of the weight of the vehicle can be imposed upon such wheels. Despite undulations in the ground, therefore, the wheels 3I rise and fall independently of the wheels 29 and 29 yet bear their predetermined proportion of the load. Excessive travelof the intermediate and the side plates ,2l and preferably includes a detachable cutting edge 92 of special material which can be replaced or resharpened from time to time. .The relative position of the cutting edge 92 determines the depth of cut when'material is being excavated and determines'the elevation of material being-spread.

To enable discharge of material from the main bowl structure A, I provide a member movable between the sides of the bowl between loading and .discharge positions. This member isshown as a bottom orpan 83 which is disposed between the side plates 2| and 22, and which extends rearwardly from the blade 9 I It is secured either to the blade or adjacent the blade by hinge 94 for movement about atransverse horizontal axis. This. hinge can be a rod which extends through alternate serrated portions 91 and 99 on the blade 9| and the pan 93,respectively. The pan 33 is preferably fabricated of a plurality of sheets of knife assembly, or in order to move the side plates 2| and 22 about the axis of the rear wheels, I provide an equalized actuating device. A cable 6|, extending from a power-operated winch driven by the tractor and controlled by the operator thereof, extends through a fair lead 92 mounted on the horn I3 and overya pulley G3 to a differential drum 64 rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 66 projecting upwardly from the platform I4 and aligned by suitable bracing 91. The cable |i| has one end fast on and is wrapped several times around a large sheave 68 included in the differential-drum 64 Also included in the drum is a small sheave 69, to which a secondary cable 65 is fastened and around which the cable 65 is several times wrapped. With the differential drum arrangement, when the cable 9| is taken in, for example, the sheave 99 is rotated in unison with the sheave 69 and a relatively small tension in the cable 6| becomes a correspondingly larger tension in the. cable 65.

From the sheave 69 the cable 95 extends around a pulley II, thence around a comparable pulley I2, and is anchored by abolt 13 upon the bracing 91. When the cable 63 is takenin, therefore', the pulleys II and I2 are caused to approach each other with an equalized force. Movement the cable BI is taken in by its winch, the differential drum G4 is rotated counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, the pulleys 'II' and 12 approach each other, and the side plates 2I and 22 rise with respect to the ground and rotate clockwise, as seen in Fig. 1, about the ground-engaging-wheel axles 26 and 21. comparably, when the cable material and structural shapes to provide a relatively light though rigid construction. Reinforcing struts 9I are shown extending from enlargements of relatively low sides 92 included in the pan. In its lowermost or earth-carrying position illustrated in Figure 3, the weight of the pan and its load is borne not only by the hinge 84 but likewise by a stop formed by an angle 93' spanning the side plates 2| and 22.

In order to normally urge the pan toward its earth-carry g position, 1 preferably provide a yielding means, such as a spring, normally effective to urge the pan into abutment with the cross-member 93. To accomplish this, I attach a cable 94 to a convenient portion of the pan and train the cable around a pulley 96 secured to the cross-member 93 and around a pulley 91 mounted on a transverse box frome 98 spanning the space between the side plates 2| and 22 and serving as a continuation also of the back plate 23. From the pulley 91 the cable passes around a pair of pulleys I09 and 99 mounted within the box frame and is secured to a terminus IIII thereupon.

Each of the pulleys I00 and 99 is secured to one of similar plungers I02 disposed within one of a pair of coil springs I93 surrounding comparable guides I94 at the ends of the box beam and removably mounted therein by stud-secured plates I99. When the pan 83 is rotated about the hinge axis 84 to tension the cable 94, the pulleys I99 and 99 are moved first to approach each other as seen in Fig. 5, or in a direction to compress their respective springs, the pulleys-being constrained to substantially rectilinear movement by guide walls I 01 within the box. beam. When the superior force is released from the pan 83 the springs I03 are effective, through the agency of the'cable 94, to return the pan 93 to its'seat against the angle 93 and to hold it firmly thereagainst with apredetermined force.

In conjunction with the main bowl structure A, I provide a movable front apron or auxiliary load carrying, bowl B. The front apron includes a load supporting wall formed by plates III and II2, which are attached to the side plates 3 and the front plate II4. Attached to the side plates II3 are the mounting arms IIB. These arms are connected by transversely aligned pivots III to the side walls 2| and 22, so that the apron moves about the pivots II! as a center or axis.

In order to avoid any overlapping of the side plates, and yet to preclude the accidental spill 7 plates 2| and 22 remains substantially constant.

In its lowermost or closed position, the apron B rests against the cutting edge 82, and I preferably provide means for lifting the hood from such lowermost or closed position into an upper or raisedposition. Furthermore, I preferably correlate such raising or lifting means with a means for exerting a lifting force upon the pan 83. Extending from a power-operated winch on the tractor, which is controlled by the tractor operator, is an operating cable I2I. The cable I2| passes through a fair lead I22 mounted on the horn I3 and through a pulley I24 supported by the framework 61 and is convoluted around and fastened to the larger sheave I26 of a differential drum mechanism which includes a shaft I21 journaled on an A-frame I28 upstanding from the side walls 2| and 22. This differential drum mechanism can be termed a motion transmission unit which affords a mechanical advantage in transmitting forces.

At each end of the shaft I2I there is a relatively small drum I29 to which and around which a cable I3I is secured. Each of the cables I3I extends first to pass around a pulley I32 mounted on a cross-pin I33 at the upper and rearmost extremity of the pan 83. The cable |3I then extends forwardly over a vertical sheave I34 at one side of the A-frame I28, then extends over a pulley I35 mounted on a cross-pin I3'I adjacent one corner of the front plate 4 of the apron B. From the pulley I36 the cable extends upwardly to'an anchorage I38 on the A-frame I28.

When the cable I2I is tensioned, it rotates the sheave I26 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1. This simultaneously rotates the shaft I21 and the drums I29. The cables |3| are then tensioned and urge the pulleys I32 and I36 to approach each other.- Due to the retarding effect of the springs I03, and due to the greater load ordinarily carried on the pan 83, ordinarily the apron B is first to yield and is rotated about the pivots II'I until it arrives at an uppermost position as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 3. In its uppermost position the apron abuts against the A-frame I28 so that continued tension on the cables |3I results in moving the pulleys I32 upwardly and forwardly and rotates the pan- 83 about the hinge 84 until it likewise assumes the dotted line discharge position shown in Fig. 3.

During the pivotal movement of the pan it is effective to dislodge any material which might be of a clayey or adhesive nature and adhere to the sides 2| and 22, so that there has been a virtually total discharge of the contents of the apron and of the bowl A when the apron and the pan have both reached their fully raised positions. After such discharge, the cable I2I is permitted to slacken, and the springs I03, together with the weight of the pan and of the apron, are effective to return such elements to their load carrying or lowermost position.

The machine described above is employed as follows: To take on a load, the machine is traversed over a ground surface and the operator raises the front apron B by pulling on cable I2I, and lowers the main bowl structure A and the cutting blade by playing out cable 6|, until a cut is being taken at the desired depth. The dirtis delivered into the main bowl structure A upon the pan or hinged bottom 83. As the load nears capacity, a part of the load is carried by-the front apron B, and as the cut is being completed and the blade is being raised by pulling on cable 6|, cable I2I can be played out to permit closing of the front apron. Continued pulling on cable 6| serves to raise the main bowl structure A free of the ground so that the machine can be traversed to the location Where the load is to be discharged. When it is desired to discharge the load, the operator pulls upon cable I2I, which causes raising of the front apron B, thus causing discharge of the forward part of the load. Continued pulling or takeup of cable I2I ultimately causes the pan or hinged bottom 83 to be swung upwardly and forwardly to its raised or discharge position, thus causing the remainder of the load to be discharged.

My machine has several desirable features. The combination between the forked frame C and the main bowl structure A makes a strong and durable assembly, and the arrangement for raising and lowering the main bowl structure in conjunction with this assembly makes for good control over the depth of out without applying undue stresses to various parts of the machine. The pivotal connections I8 to the sides of the main bowl are located in a desirable manner, rearwardly of the cutting blade and forwardly of the rear wheels, so that the draft is effectively applied through the rigid side walls of the bowl to the cutting blade, without tendency to have such forces urge the blade out of the ground. The angle of the blade is such that in normal cutting the blade and also the main bowl are urged downwardly against the pull of cables I4.

I claim:

1. In earth moving equipment, a frame, wheels serving to carry the forward end of the frame, a main bowl structure associated with the frame and provided with a forward digging blade, wheels serving to support the rear end of the .bowl structure, means forming a pivotal connection between the bowl and the frame on a transverse axis spaced rearwardly of the blade, and means acting between the frame and the forward portion of the bowl for raising and lowering the bowl, said means including cables attached to the sides of the bowl, an operating cable, and means for transmitting approximately equalized tension from said operating cable to said first named cables.

2. In earth moving equipment, a frame, wheels serving to carry the forward end of the frame, a main bowl associated with the frame and provided with a forward digging blade, wheels serving to support the rear end of the bowl, means forming a pivotal connection between the bowl and the frame on a transverse axis spaced rearwardly of the blade, and means acting between the frame and the forward portion of the bowl for raising and lowering the bowl, said means including cables attached to the sides of the bowl adjacent the forward end of the bowl, an operating cable, and means including sheave blocks for main bowl associated with the frame and provided with a forward digging blade, wheels serving to support the rear end of the bowl, means forming a pivotal connection between the bowl and the frame on a transverse axis spaced rearwardly of the blade, and means acting-between the frame and the forward portion of the bowl for raising and lowering the bowl, said means including cables attached to the sides of the bow] at the forward end of the bowl, sheaves carried by the sides of the frame and over which said cables engage, an operating cable, and means including a pair of sheave blocks serving to transmit approximately equalized tension from said operating cable to both said first named cables.

4. In earth moving equipment, a forked frame, wheels connected to the forward end of the frame for supporting the same, a bowl structure mounted in the forked end of the frame and including reinforced side walls, a transverse earth cutting blade secured to the forward end of the bowl structure, rear supporting wheels,

-rear extensions secured to said bowl structure and serving to connect the bowl structure to said wheels, a pivotal connection between the rear ends of the frame and the side walls of the bowl, and means acting between the frame and the forward and of the bowl structure for raising and lowering the bowl structure, the axis of said pivotal connection being located above a plane containing said cutting blade and the axis of said rear supporting wheels, and also being located relatively close to the axis of the rear wheels compared to its distance from the cutting blade.

5. In earth moving equipment, a forked frame, wheels serving to carry the forward end of the frame, a main bowl, structure associated with the frame and provided with a forward digging blade and rigid side walls, wheels serving to support the rear end of the bowl structure, means forming a pivotal connection between the rear end of the forked frame and the side walls of the bowl on a transverse axis spaced rearwardly of the blade, and means acting between the frame and the forward portion of the bowl for raising and lowering the bowl, said means including cables connected to the sides of the bowl, an operating cable, and means for applying approximately equalized tension from the operating cable to said first named cables.

6. In earth moving equipment having a frame and a bowl structure adjustable carried thereby, a pair of cables attached to said bowl structure at spaced points, spaced apart sheave means on said frame about which the respective cables are reeved, and operating means for said cables including a pair of movable sheave blocks and an operating cable reeved over the sheaves of said blocks, said first named cables being attached respectively to said blocks.

MACK WOOLDRIDGE. 

